Bøker av Melissa McShane

For five years, Aderyn has waited to get the Call-the event when the system controlling her world grants her a class and appropriate skills to become an adventurer. When the system makes her a Warmaster, Aderyn eagerly sets out on her first journey. The problem? Her class is useless. No one believes a Warmaster is anything but a joke. They aren't strong fighters, they have no magic, and they don't have powerful skills. But Aderyn hasn't waited all these years to give up now. With the help of a young man from another world, she's going to prove this Warmaster can do anything.Read now or listen to the audiobook to join the adventure!

As a paladin and prime of the Dark Goddess, Ginnevra travels the world with her werewolf companion Eodan, protecting the innocent and destroying evil. Her latest mission: to escort an anointed to the holy city of Abraciabene to receive the highest ordination of the Goddess's servants-the first man ever to do so.Now Ginnevra and Eodan must guide their party of paladins and anointed on a monthlong journey through the badlands, struggling to maintain an uneasy peace within their company. Hounded by evil werewolves and followed by a mysterious creature only Ginnevra can see, her greatest challenge may be from the very man she is sworn to protect.

Fiona, cursed with the power to ignite fire in a country where magic is illegal, wants to start a new life for herself, far from the mistakes of her past. A case of mistaken identity tangles her fortunes with those of the mysterious Sebastian, who intends to stop a blackmailer from destroying his family.Asked to help Sebastian infiltrate a sacred temple to find the damning evidence, Fiona soon goes from reluctant companion to trusted ally.But Sebastian's secrets go deeper than Fiona realizes. What began as a simple heist becomes a web of intrigue entangling the governments of two countries.As Fiona's deceptions grow deeper, she must find a way to redeem her honor-and embrace a future she believes impossible.

A SPOT OF BLACKMAILFor months, Sienne and her scrapper team have faced many challenges in their quest to free Alaric's people from the wizard enslaving them. But when a new, unexpected challenge threatens to end their quest, the companions have no choice but to give in to a blackmailer's demand: retrieve an ancient stone artifact from an abandoned village.Their new adventure takes them north to the edges of the Empty Lands, where monsters roam free and even the land is dangerous. Someone else wants what they're after-someone who will kill to get it. And in a deserted castle past the borders of civilization, the companions encounter evil unlike any they've fought before.A thrilling adventure of powerful magic, dangerous foes, and the triumph of free will.

Zara North, Queen of Tremontane, has the ability to unconsciously heal herself-a magic that also keeps her from aging. Faced with the reality that public knowledge of her magic could destroy her family's dynasty and cost them the Crown, she faked her own death and set out to make a new life for herself, far from the capital and the family she loved. Never settling anywhere for long, Zara became an exile in her own country.Now, sixty years after her "death," Zara's ageless face forces her to leave her home yet again. Wanting something different from the quiet life she led for decades, she sets sail for the distant continent of Dineh-Karit, reclusive and alien. When unexpected catastrophe strikes, it strands Zara and a handful of her fellow voyagers in the jungles of Dineh-Karit. Far from civilization, their only guide a reluctant Tremontanan expatriate who has his own reasons for being there, the castaways struggle for survival and to return home.But Zara, entrusted with a secret by a dying man, finds herself caught between the woman she has become and the Queen she used to be. As an implacable enemy bent on retrieving the secret-a mysterious magical object-draws ever closer, Zara realizes her companions' survival depends on Zara's ability to lead them as she once did a nation. With an identity and a magical secret she still cannot reveal, Zara discovers depths in herself she thought were long gone-and gains a future she never expected.

London, 1812. Sophia Westlake is an Extraordinary Seer, gifted with the ability to See past, present and future in Dreams and Visions. When she accuses a prominent politician, Lord Endicott, of embezzling from the Army, her Dream is "proved" false and she is disgraced, her reputation ruined. Furious and desperate, Sophia takes the only course left to her: she sets out to discover Lord Endicott's criminal enterprises and bring him to justice. Sophia's allies are few, but loyal. Cecy, her best friend, supports Sophia in her quest, while her cousin Lady Daphne, an irrepressible Extraordinary Bounder, is always ready for a challenge. And always watching her is the mysterious Mr. Rutledge, who claims to be interested in Sophia's friendship-and possibly more than that-but who has an agenda of his own. But as Sophia delves deeper into prophetic Dreams, Cecy and Daphne begin to fear for Sophia's health and sanity. Driven to collapse by her frequent Dreaming, Sophia is forced to reevaluate her motives: does she want Lord Endicott brought to justice, or is it revenge she seeks? Sophia's Dreams and Visions are leading her to just one place: the destruction of Lord Endicott. But the cost of her vengeance may be too high-and may demand the sacrifice of her own life.

An assignment to mediate a religious conflict takes the paladin Ginnevra and her werewolf companion Eodan to the city-state of Quinizelle, site of Ginnevra's greatest failure. Four years earlier, a bandit attack caused the death of the king's sister, the woman Ginnevra's paladin company was sworn to protect, and nearly cost Ginnevra her life.Now, Ginnevra's former best friend returns, claiming to have proof of what really happened four years ago. Caught between past tragedy and present conflict, Ginnevra must stop Quinizelle from descending into religious war-and face truths she wishes had never come to light.

Ten years after joining with the oracular bookstore Abernathy's to become an oracle herself, Helena Campbell has a perfect life: a loving husband, three wonderful children who share her gift, and a calling she loves. But a chance encounter reveals a secret conflict between adepts who wield magic unlike anything she has ever seen and a powerful cabal that wants to rule the world. For a thousand years, the adepts have guarded the way to the realm of Faerie, preventing elves from entering and destroying our world. But the barrier is weakening. As the evil cabal works to bring it crashing down, the conflict requires Helena to use her gift against them-but will the power of the oracle be enough to stop an invasion?

Paladin of the Goddess Ginnevra Cassaline and her companion, the werewolf Eodan, want to teach people the truth about how good werewolves turn their backs on the Goddess's enemy, the Bright One. But as a new challenge arises, they must temporarily set aside their personal quest. Men and women are going missing in the city of Uparde, including Ginnevra's aunt, a retired paladin, and Revered Parenogne, leader of Uparde's religious community.When Ginnevra receives responsibility for solving the mystery, the task draws Ginnevra and Eodan deeper into the secrets at the heart of the city. Between their conflict with someone intent on getting credit for finding the lost, and the ongoing interference of a mysterious woman apparently gifted with the Goddess's power, can Ginnevra discover the truth before time runs out for all the missing?

As a royal wedding draws near, relations between humans and dragons are better than ever. Even the discovery that an ancient, evil entity was behind human animosity toward dragons cannot stop the dragon Lamprophyre and her human friend Prince Rokshan from feeling victorious. But the entity still exists, and its next attack targets Lamprophyre directly, using magic that no one alive has ever seen before.Virtually helpless and newly vulnerable to the entity's attacks, Lamprophyre must discover a way to stop an enemy she cannot see, whose minions lurk in every shadow, while searching for a way to reverse what the entity did to her. And time is running out.She has to be lucky all the time. Her enemy only has to be lucky once.

In a world where paladins serve the Dark Lady and hunt monsters in Her name, Ginnevra Cassaline knows her duty. But when a routine mission leads her to an impossible alliance with Eodan-a werewolf who defies everything she believes about monsters-she begins to question the rigid beliefs she's fought to uphold.As they race to uncover a deadly conspiracy in the village of Arrus, Ginnevra finds herself caught between her sworn oaths and her growing feelings for a man she's meant to destroy. When long-held certainties begin to crumble, she must choose: follow the path laid before her, or forge a new one through uncharted darkness.In this sweeping tale of faith, duty, and forbidden love, SILVER AND SHADOW challenges everything you think you know about good and evil, monsters and heroes-and the courage it takes to follow your heart.

"Maybe it's just that this time of year, when it's dark and cold and the world feels like it's trying to kill us, we get the urge to band together and fight back." This winter season, curl up with a collection of stories from this world and others. Includes a Tremontane holiday novella and the short story "Gift of the Oracle," returning readers to the world of The Last Oracle.

LONDON, 1816. After many years confined to an asylum when her ability to sense the emotions of others drove her temporarily mad, Lydia Wescott, Extraordinary Discerner, now serves England as a secret agent. Recruited by the Duke of Craythorne to stop a threat to the King of England, Lydia travels to the American colonies, where intrigue and treason threaten on every side. Lydia wants nothing more than to put her Discerner's talent to good use, but her hard-won control could be an illusion. As Lydia and Craythorne close in on the traitors, Lydia's talent may be the downfall not only of England's enemies, but of herself.

LONDON, 1815. Home after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, Clemency, Countess of Ashford, looks forward to resuming a quiet life. But her past refuses to stay in the past. Fighting memories, the Extraordinary Mover takes to the skies by night, secretly bringing criminals to justice.When a rash of bombings strikes London, the crisis entangles Clemency in the intrigue centered on the bomber's terrible demands: remove all Extraordinaries from their positions of power, or the city will burn. As Clemency pursues this most dangerous criminal, her past and present collide, forcing her not only to save London, but also to save herself.

Veronica North, quiet and shy widow of the King of Tremontane, spends her days drifting from one charitable cause to another. Longing for something different, she returns to the Scholia, foremost educational institution in the country, to complete her education. At fifty, she is by far the oldest student there, but soon makes a place for herself within the community.When a friend and fellow student is murdered, the tragedy draws Veronica into the investigation. Despite official warnings to leave it alone, Veronica's determination to obtain justice for her friend brings her ever closer to the truth-and leads her to discover a side of herself she never knew existed.

Calcutta, 1813. Lady Daphne St. Clair, who as an Extraordinary Bounder is capable of transporting herself anywhere in the world with a thought, has longed to serve in the Army for years. But an unexpected weakness at the sight of blood makes her responsible for a good man's death in battle. Unable to serve on the battlefield, Daphne is sent to India to be transportation for the Governor-General's wife and children. In disgrace, Daphne fears she will never achieve the fame and glory she has worked so hard for.A chance encounter with Captain Phineas Fletcher, attached to the Honourable East India Company as a troubleshooter and investigator, leads to Daphne being given a new opportunity: help Captain Fletcher discover the truth behind a series of strange occurrences in the town of Madhyapatnam. Daphne is willing to do anything to restore her reputation, even something as small as Captain Fletcher's investigation. As the days progress, her attachment to the members of the team grows deeper, as does her growing attraction to the captain.But as Daphne and Captain Fletcher dig deeper into the mystery, the truth turns out to be much more sinister than anyone imagined. Dark currents run deep beneath the pleasant surface of Madhyapatnam, and the echoes of a twenty-year-old story threaten not only the Company's rule over the town, but the safety and well-being of everyone in it. Soon only Daphne's talent and courage stand between Madhyapatnam and the evil that threatens to overwhelm it.

In 1812, Elinor Pembroke wakes to find her bedchamber in flames-and extinguishes them with a thought. As an Extraordinary, gifted with powerful magical talent, she is respected and feared, but her father intends to control her and her talent by forcing her to marry where he insists. Trapped between the choices of a loveless marriage or living penniless and dependent on her parents, Elinor takes a third path: she joins the Royal Navy.Assigned to serve under Captain Miles Ramsay aboard the frigate Athena, she turns her fiery talent on England's enemies, vicious pirates preying on English ships in the Caribbean. At first feared by her shipmates, a growing number of victories make her truly part of Athena's crew and bring her joy in her fire. But as her power grows and changes in unexpected ways, Elinor's ability to control it is challenged.She may have the power to destroy her enemies utterly-but could it be at the cost of her own life?

AN UNCERTAIN QUEENElspeth North, born and raised far from her Tremontanan homeland, wants nothing more than the peaceful, holy life of a priestess. Although born a princess, she believes her father's abdication means politics and intrigue have nothing to do with her. But her cousin King Francis's untimely death and a twist of Tremontanan law changes her whole life...and makes Elspeth Queen of Tremontane.With no formal training, no experience, and very little support, Elspeth must learn the complex rules and traditions of a role she never expected to fill, and she must learn them fast-because the fate of a kingdom lies in her hands.

Where THE CROWN OF TREMONTANE and THE SAGA OF WILLOW NORTH leave off, TALES OF THE CROWN begins...This SPOILER-FILLED COMPANION volume to the Tremontane novels contains stories, novellas, scenes, and excerpts that never made it into the books! Here you will find: Four new short stories revealing details of the lives of Willow, Zara, Telaine, and othersHalf a dozen scenes from the books, retold from other characters' points of viewAn alternate version of Rider of the Crown, told from Jeffrey North's perspectiveThe complete text of the four-part novella Exile of the CrownThe short stories "Long Live the Queen" and "Night Be My Guardian," previously published in Servant of the Crown and Agent of the CrownThe Tremontane Encyclopedia, with background information on the geography, history, and customs of the world of TremontaneWhen you've read the novels of Tremontane, pick up TALES OF THE CROWN for an enhanced reading experience!

When humans' trusted allies turn on them, nowhere is safe...For over seventy years, the use of familiars-monsters bound by magic to fight beside humans in the Long War-divided magery into two factions. Now, the monsters strike back.As Helena prepares for the Conference of Neutralities, reports of familiars breaking their bonds to attack and kill their masters raise tensions between the factions to an unprecedented high.Faced with the challenge of keeping her relationship with Malcolm Campbell secret from more than a hundred of her fellow custodians, Helena must also protect herself from rogue familiars-and they're closer than she thinks.

"As the custodian of the oracular bookstore Abernathy's, Helena has faced any number of challenges in learning her new role. But when the store begins giving out false prophecies, Helena comes up against her greatest challenge yet: how can she fix Abernathy's when she doesn't truly know how it works?Armed only with a few special talents and her desire to protect her magical charge, and with the assistance of her best friend Viv, her reluctant assistant Judy, and the enigmatic and handsome Malcolm Campbell, Helena navigates the treacherous depths of the magical world, where secret enemies lurk behind illusions capable of fooling even the most powerful of magical entities. Helena is the only one who can see past those illusions, but will her abilities prove strong enough to save the oracle?"--Back cover.

When the oracle behaves strangely, Helena is its only hope.With the Mercy's attacks on the Wardens neutralized, Helena prepares for her upcoming wedding to Malcolm Campbell. But when Helena steps into the oracle's space and finds herself somewhere unfamiliar, the mystery threatens to destroy the Wardens' tentative peace.Having no explanation for the oracle's strange behavior, Helena reaches out to a new ally she hopes can answer her questions. Is the oracle trying to communicate with her? Is it under attack again?Or is Helena traveling through time?

War is coming. And Helena is at the heart of it.With a successful challenge to the Accords behind her, and her relationship with Malcolm Campbell made public, Helena Davies' life seems perfect. Then the attacks begin.As the enemy magi known as the Mercy wreak havoc on Warden strongholds, Helena and the oracular bookstore Abernathy's play their role in guiding the Wardens. But the oracle knows a deadly secret, one Helena struggles to interpret while the enemy draws nearer. And the one question she needs the answer to is the one question the oracle will not answer: Who are the weavers?

THE FINAL CHALLENGEWith their quest nearly over and the coming of age ritual complete, Sienne and her companions prepare to challenge the wizard who enslaved Alaric's people. But a message from an unexpected source reveals terrible news about the identity of the wizard's latest hostage...Alaric's beloved younger sister.In a desperate attempt to save her life and destroy the wizard, the companions travel to a secret valley in the far north, challenging the combined might of the enslaved unicorns and the most powerful wizard in the world. All their adventures have led them to this moment-but nothing has prepared them for what comes next.The epic conclusion to the Company of Strangers series, full of terrible danger and heroic sacrifice.

Alison Quinn, Countess of Waxwold, is content with her bookish life--until she's summoned to be a lady-in-waiting to the Queen of Tremontane's mother for six months. Even the prospect of access to the Royal Library doesn't seem enough to make up for her sacrifice, but Alison is prepared to do her service to the Crown. What she's not prepared for is Prince Anthony North, Queen Zara's playboy brother, who's accustomed to getting what he wants--including the Countess of Waxwold.

A CITY LOST TO TIMEAn unexpected discovery takes Sienne and her companions to the mysterious country of Omeira, Kalanath's lost homeland. There, a surprising welcome for Kalanath leads to another discovery. To complete their quest, they must travel to the city of Ma'tzehar, swallowed up by the desert centuries ago.Dangers lurk on every side on the journey to Ma'tzehar. But the real challenge begins when they reach the mysterious city, filled with dangers of a darker kind. And in the heart of the desert, they encounter an ancient, powerful creature whose magic and knowledge may be the key to their quest.An exciting adventure of epic battles, family ties, and the desire for freedom.

Willow North has safely brought the boy-King Felix out of Tremontane and secured the support of neighboring Eskandel in his bid to recover the Crown. Now she faces her greatest challenge yet: convincing the Counts and Barons of Tremontane to support Felix as he confronts his uncle, the pretender to the Crown. With Tremontane on the verge of civil war, success hinges on discovering true allies amid those who would take the Crown for themselves. But Willow's true plan-to choose a new ruler for Tremontane and give Felix a chance at a happy life-hits a snag when it seems none of the potential candidates for the Crown are suitable. With her army racing to meet the pretender's, time is running out. Willow will have to choose a King...and that choice will be one even she doesn't expect.

Willow North is a thief, and despite her secret magical talent for sensing worked metal, she has never wanted to be anything else. But when her former fiancé appears on her doorstep with the eight-year-old King of Tremontane in tow, she is drawn into the political conflict surrounding the boy King's ascension. His uncle, a powerful Ascendant with the magic of manipulating the elements, murdered the old King and intends to kill young King Felix. Willow intends only to take the boy to safety, but as the days pass, she finds herself increasingly attached to Felix and unwilling to leave him once he's safe. But the pretender to the Crown has a long reach, and as his men close in on the fugitives, it seems nowhere may be safe.

When Serjian Kerish showed up on her doorstep with the heir to the Crown of Tremontane in tow, Willow North thought her involvement would begin and end with getting him out of the capital and away from his murderous uncle. But bringing the boy-king Felix to the safety of Eskandel was only the beginning of the journey.Now, as the King's guardian, she must navigate the murky waters of Eskandelic politics, trying to build support that will allow him to take back his kingdom. Amid the challenges of assassination attempts, cultural misunderstandings, and her growing attraction to her former fiancé Kerish, Willow must discover who she really is: a sneak thief, or the guardian of the Crown.